Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 April, 2014 - Defending champion Travelsim Team Australia is in second spot with three days of competition remaining at the 2014 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Ecuador.

The event at Salinas Beach has attracted more than 300 of the world’s best Under 18 and Under 16 surfers from 32 countries. France leads the event followed by Australia, Hawaii, USA and Japan.

Travelsim Team Australia had its first surfers eliminated overnight on Day 5 with Fraser Dovell (Avalon Beach, NSW) in the Under 18 Boys and Shaun Manners (Margaret River, WA) in the Under 16 Boys bowing out of the competition.

Both surfers were looking to qualify for the final through the Repechage rounds, but finished fourth in their Round 4 heats. In a busy day for Dovell, he started strongly with a first and a second, but finished fourth in his third heat of the day. Manners surfed twice for a first and fourth.

If a surfer is knocked out of the main draw for finishing third or fourth they still get a chance to qualify for the final through the Repechage rounds but must finish first or second in each heat to advance. There are eight Repechage rounds.

Luke Hynd (Tallebudgera Valley, QLD) surfed three Repechage heats in the Under 18 Boys for three seconds to join Cody Robinson (Jan Juc, VIC) in Round 5 of Repechage. Robinson won his Round 4 heat.

Zac Wightman (Lennox Head, NSW) won his Repechage Round 4 heat to advance in the Under 16 Boys. Holly Wawn (Newport, NSW) won her heat to advance to Round 5 of Repechage in the Under 18 Girls, while Billie Melinz (Coalcliff, NSW) was one of the top performers of the day with a second and a first to also advance to Round 5 of Repechage in the Under 16 Girls.

Three surfers – Isabella Nichols (Girls Under 18), Laura Poncini (Girls Under 16) and Joe Van Dijk (Boys Under 16) - are still in the main draw.

Monty Tait (Maroubra, NSW - Under 18 Boys) and Quinn Bruce (Coolangatta, QLD – Under 16 Boys) did not surf overnight and will next surf in Repechage Round 6.

Surfing Australia would like to recognise the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), Travelsim and Be the Influence - Tackling Binge Drinking for their continuing support of the Team Australia Program.